CONTEIBUTIONS TO THE NATUEAL HISTOEY OF ALASKA. 33 



GENERAL REMARKS CONCERNING THE WIND. 



The intermediate winds have been left ont, and included in the remarks for the eight principal 

 points. A few remarks concerning the surface winds will not be out. of place. 



The effect of backing, if on the west side, is to lower the temperature; hence to veer on that 

 side is to raise the temperature. ^ 



To veer on the east side is to raise the temperature; to back is to lower the temperature. 

 The ratio or frequency of veering or backing is greater for the latter. A view of the " summary ' ; 

 will show the number of times of frequency from all recorded points of the winds. 



Upper currents. — Of these there are four, of which the one from the south is the most frequent? 

 and probably equal to that of all others. The north current is the next most frequent; then is 

 followed by one from southeast and one from northwest, the former in excess of the latter for 

 number of times. 



At times streams of upper clouds are carried from south for days aud even weeks at a time ; 

 even if the lower sky should be clouded for a time during this period, I have reason to believe that 

 the upper current has not been interrupted. 



During the latter days of my stay I began to foretell changes of wind on the surface from north 

 to south by these upper clouds moving from north. It has but rarely failed unless the whole 

 mass of the atmosphere was to move from the south. 



TIDES. 



Tides forming a part of my regular observations, demaud attention. The observations have 

 been most of the time without a proper gauge, as the bottom in the arm of the sea here consists 

 of fine volcanic gravel aud ashes, which make a very unstable foundation for a gauge. The high 

 waves have carried out three gauges; hence I have adopted permanent stones and rocks for the 

 necessary measurements. 



The effect of the attraction of the sun and moon on the water in Norton Sound is to raise a 

 tidal wave of about 2% feet in height. This is proven during periods of comparative quiet, when 

 the winds are at rest. 



The winds having a much greater effect will be considered next. 



Starting from the north and northeast, the effect of brisk to high winds continued for two 

 days is to lower the water of this part of the sound about li feet, and continues in this proportion 

 for each day of winds from those points, though a northeast wind is more effective than a north 

 wind, as will be seen from the trend of the coast and the low pressure to the westward. 



The east wind occurring but seldom, and never so vigorous as to produce any appreciable 

 effect, is left out of the question. 



The southeast wind, holding for two days, by its southward tendency always raises a tide 4 

 to 6 feet above mean. This extreme tide occurs usually in the months of May aud September. 

 The south wind exerts the greatest force, and raises the tidal wave to the extreme of 6 to 7 feet 

 above mean tide. 



The hard storm attendant upon the winter solstice produces annually an extreme tide of 7 to 

 8 feet. This, and the southeast wind are the opposite in power to the north and northeast. 



The north wind in the month of October, acquiring a high storm velocity and lasting for 

 many days together, throws 7 to 8 feet of water out of Norton Sound. 



The shallowness of the 3-fathom curve bounding this part of the coast, and the low tide, 

 would render it very unsafe for any craft to be inside. 



The beach around the island, facing the sea, is narrow, only a few feet, and composed of flue 

 volcanic sand, the remains of the solitary basalt-rock which forms the foundation of all this part 

 of the coast, and, from its extreme hardness, is well termed iron-bound. 



When I first came here I made notice of certain unchangeable places on the beach, and these 

 are now 18 inches above the level taken at that time. 



American traders who have been here ever since the occupation of the Territory concur with 



me in the statemeut, i. e., that the coast is rising. The natives inform me that many years ago 



an earthquake occurred in this locality and raised the coast several feet in the neighborhood of 



Kegukhtouk, a village about 18 miles east of this place. The fierce beating of the north and 



S. Mis. 155 5 



